maryjane

yesterday work was so sad. a couple of months ago, a big, wonderful great dane came into our hospital and was diagnosed with congestive heart failure. he was only 4 years old. yesterday, after living longer than expected with the help of lots of medication, we put him to sleep. we x-rayed his chest and his heart was bigger than a basketball. his lungs were filled with so much fluid which was indicative that the meds he was on were no longer working. his breathing was labored and he was suffering so badly. i had fallen in love with him at first sight two months ago- he's very much like my dane mix, grover. i cried and cried next to his owner as i held off his vein so the doc could inject him and he could breathe easy once again up in dog heaven or wherever their spirits go when they leave their bodies. the owner did the right thing though. her dog was drowning in lung fluid right before her eyes and she knew how bad he was hurting. there was no other possible way to make him comfortable, we had done all we could and what we did do was no longer working. it's days like these that make me feel so sad, and it makes me grateful that i also know what happiness feel like. i am so very appreciative that i can feel emotions and not take them for granted. every tear, every laugh, every smile... being able to feel makes life worth living. it's just too bad that that wonderful doggie had to be put down, but on the other side of the coin, he lived a good 6 weeks longer than we had initially anticipated. bittersweet for all of us who knew him. in that short time he came into our hospital, he stole my heart and used his sweet charm and affection to melt it into a big pile of mush. animals are wonderful creatures.
if you have pets, go and hug them, get them a checkup at the vet if they haven't been in a while. if you don't have pets, say hi to one on the street, and if they let you, give 'em a little pet or a hug. be kind to animals, they can touch your heart without even trying.

:mj: